(1)Siraj Haqqani's cousin reported killed in Waziristan strike
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| Click to view slide show of commanders in the Haqqani Network. Pictured is a composite image of Siraj Haqqani. |
Pakistani intelligence officials are claiming that a Haqqani Network commander named Saifullah who also was one of Siraj Haqqani's cousins was killed in the Sept. 14 Predator strike in the village of Qutabkhel. From AFP/Dawn:
A US drone fired two missiles into a vehicle in Qutabkhel village in North Waziristan tribal district on Tuesday, killing four militants."Afghan Taliban commander Saifullah travelled to the region from Afghanistan three days ago and was killed in yesterday's US missile strike," a senior security official in the area told AFP.
The information was based on intelligence intercepts, the official said.
He described Saifullah as the first cousin of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who runs the Haqqani network created by his father, Afghan warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani.
Claims of Taliban and al Qaeda deaths by Pakistani intelligence officials should be treated with caution given their poor track record. The Haqqani Network hasn't confirmed or denied the report, but it is still early. When Mohammed Haqqani, one of Siraj's four brothers, was killed in a Predator strike in February 2010, the Haqqanis confirmed the report within weeks.
READER COMMENTS: "Siraj Haqqani's cousin reported killed in Waziristan strike"
Posted by kp at September 15, 2010 1:21 PM ET:
One thing that might give this report a bit more credibility is the comment: "Afghan Taliban commander Saifullah travelled to the region from Afghanistan three days ago and was killed in yesterday's US missile strike," a senior security official in the area told AFP.
This sounds like he was watched in his movements (knowing where he was and where he ended up) and tracked across into NW with a positive ID before being hit.
Also this was a vehicle hit (with two missiles) not a building hit. The occupants of a vehicle are unlike to survive a Hellfire hit. Especially with a follow up then observation to make sure no-one leaves the scene.
But we should know in a couple of weeks.
Final interesting point ... the mention of "intercepts" shows we are using at (probably tactical) SIGINT for intel.